'Bachelor in Paradise': DeMario Jackson Breaks Silence on 'False Claims'
The two people directly involved in the "Bachelor in Paradise" "misconduct" allegations have now released statements, both hoping to clear their own names.
The ABC Bachelor/Bachelorette spinoff suspended production after something happened on set, and initial reports named both Corinne Olympios of "The Bachelor" and DeMario Jackson of "The Bachelorette." Once reports started coming out that there may have been some kind of sexual misconduct -- that at least one party was allegedly too drunk to consent -- some sites removed Corinne's name but kept DeMario's name and face front-and-center of the story.
Yesterday, Corinne went on the record, confirming her identity as one of the parties involved. She released a statement saying she didn't remember much about the incident in question (which was allegedly reported by a third-party producer) but she was a "victim" seeking answers on what happened. She also noted that she had hired lawyers. Shortly after Corinne's statement, DeMario and his own team of lawyers issued their own statement:
"It's unfortunate that my character and family name has been assassinated this past week with false claims and malicious allegations. I will be taking swift and appropriate legal action until my name is cleared and, per the advice of legal counsel, will be seeking all available remedies entitled to me under the laws."
It's unclear how much the public will learn from here, beyond the status of "Bachelor in Paradise" in future years. (Don't look for it this summer, the cast has gone home and now the network and producers will be busy with potential lawsuits.) Depending on the direction ahead, we may also have to question the future of "The Bachelor" and "Bachelorette," or at least expect new practices on set to avoid a repeat of this incident. Hopefully it's not just swept under the rug, with the franchise moving forward as if nothing happened.
Fans have been taking sides on social media, based on the limited, often conflicting information in source reports from set. Chris Harrison warned that there's a lot of misinformation out there, and we can't help but hope that the truth comes out, for the well-being and futures of both Corinne and DeMario.
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